Type-writing machine



4 SheetsSheet 1.

H T A E H QM Pm a d 0 M m TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented May 12, 1896.

Hllllillll lllllllD) M. PHMOUTHO WASNINGI'UN. D C

(No Model.) x Sheets-Sheet 2.

. G. S. HEATH.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 560,163. Patented May 12, 1896.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. S. HEATH.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

N0. 560,163. Patented May. 12, 1896.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4,

I G. S. HEATH. TYPE WRITING MAGHINE. N0.560,163. Patented May 12, 1896.

'NITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. HEATH, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES F. HOWE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 560,168, dated May 12,1896.

Application filed October 4, 1893. Serial No. 487,201. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usef 111 Im provcments in TypelVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention for improvements in typewriting machines particularly relates to im provements in the paper feeding devices which are mounted on the carriage.

The objects of the invention are to obtain more perfect results as regards the straight guidance of the paper across and in close and firm contact with the platen, irrespective of the width of the paper or card, within the limits of the machine, or whether the same is a single sheet or is in manifold; to insure the positive feed of the sheet or sheets of paper at both sides thereof, so that, especially in manifold-work, the sheet next to the pressure will travel exactly as fast as the sheet in contact with the platen; to improve the line-spacing devices, and generallyto improve the constructions and arrangements, all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear, and be set forth in the claims; and the invention c011- sists in constructions and combinations of parts, all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear, and be set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the improvements are fully illustrated, Figure 1 being a plan view of the carriage and the platen and coacting devices mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pawl-carrying lever and pawl and an indication by dotted lines of the adjacent parts of the carriage and platen and a representation in horizontal section of the depending lip of the guard or switch for the pawl, all to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of some of the same parts seen in Fig. 3 with the guard shifted so that the pawl will only operate on one tooth of the ratchet instead of on two, as in said former view. Fig. 6 is a perspective view with the pawl in vertical section, showing the pawl and the guard or switch therefor. Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing a part of the carriage, the click or detent for the platen, and the cam device for releasing the click and for throwing it into engagement with the teeth of the platen ratchet-wheel. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8 8, taken across the carriage-platen and pressure-roll, Fig. 9 being an under plan view of these parts and Fig. 10 a longitudinal sectional view on line 10 10, Fig. 8, these three views being more particularly for illustrating the action of the pressure-roll relative to the platen on the passage between them of manifold-sheets. Fig. 11 is an end view of a ballended stud employed in relation to the short shaft which forms the support for one end of the pressure-roll. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8, with, however, no thicknesses of paper between the pressure-roll and platen, but showing the manner of imparting an increased tension upon the flexible strips, which causes the paper to conform to the periphery of the platen. Fig. 13 is a perspective view with the wire devices at the ends, whereby they are connected to their supports, while Figs. ll and 15 are perspective views of the parts which form the supports for the ends of the said strips. Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 12, but showing a modification in the means of connection of the flexible strip with the supports therefor, Fig. 17 being a plan view of a form in which the flexible strip might be made. Fig. 18 is in part a plan and in part a horizontal sectional View showing the manner of forming the j ournal-bearings on the carriage for the platen.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, A represents the carriage, the same principally comprising a frame with the front rail and end members integrally formed, and the rear member a constituted by the round rod, which is rigidly united to the rear extremities of the end members.

13 represents the platen, which is journaled upon the end members. The platen has, at one end, as usual, the ratchet-wheel b, with which engages the pawl 61, which accomplishes the line-spacing. The pawl 61 is carried at the rear extremity of a lever f, herein termed the pawl-carrier, and which is, near its rear end, pivoted, as seen at f, upon a stud for a swinging reciprocator Y movement about a vertical axis, the pawl-carrier having the portion f at the front suitably bent, as shown, to form a convenient handle. Upon the rear end of the pawl-carrier is the rigidlyfixed stud f", which has a diagonally rearward length, and upon the other end of which the aforesaid pawl (l is hung for its swinging movement independently of its bodily movements as carried by the pawl-carrier. The pawl comprises two angularly-arranged members 20 and 22, the former being comprised in the tooth or pawl proper and the latter in an arm, which constitutes the locking element for the ratchet-wheel.

The torsion-spring f which is woundaround the aforesaid stud ffland which by one end has a connection with the said pawl (1, exerts a light pressure upon the pawl to carry it to engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel as the pawl-carrier is swung in the working direction. The spring 23 (seen in Figs. 2 and 6) causes the pawl-carrier to be returned to its normal position after each working movement thereof and so as to bring the member of the pawl against the stationary stop 24, so that normally the working tooth of the pawl, as seen in Fig. 3, is swung just outside of the path of the ends of the ratchet-teeth.

The throw of the pawl-carrier is such as to carry the pawl to engagement with the adjacent tooth of the ratchet-wheel and to force the ratchet-wheel and platen around to the extent of two of the ratchet-teeth for doubleline spacing.

For single-line spacing the device (seen at g) is manipulated so that the pawl in its workin g movement will be caused to skip or pass freely by the first and nearest tooth of the ratchet-wheel, taking into the second tooth in advance after half of its working movement has been given. This device 9 comprises the plate which at g is pivoted on one end member of the carriage, said plate having the depending lip 9 which extends down alongside the outer face of the platen ratchetwheel and in proximity to the path of movement of the tooth of the pawl. By swinging the said plate on its pivot, as conveniently performed through means of the handle-knob g, the edge of the aforesaid lip may assume a position in still greater proximity to the outer face of the ratchet-wheel, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. at at g so as to come in the course of the working end of the pawl, (said working end being somewhat wider than, and standing out from the end face of, the. ratchet-wheel,) serving as a guard or switch to prevent the tooth of the pawl fallin ginto engagement with the first tooth of the ratchet-wheel, although the length and relative arrangement of this guard-lip are not sufficient to prevent the pawl taking into the next tooth beyond, so that on the full swinging movement of the pawl-carrier the halfwidth-line spacing may be insured.

The guard-plate ghas on its under side next to the top surface of the-end of the carriage two properly-spaced indentations 20 26, into one or the other of which maybe engaged, according to the position of the switch-plate for the purpose aforesaid, the conical end of the stud or screw 27, for the purpose of securely retaining the plate in its properly'set posit-ion.

In Fig. 3 the normal position of the pawl is shotm, while in Fig. 5 the position of the pawl is shown after it has just commenced its working movement, the guard g restraining the pawl from entering the engagement with the tooth of the ratchet-wheel which was nearest its end while it was in its normal position. The pawl forwardly carried by the pawl-carrier as it drives forward the teeth of the ratchet-wheel has a swinging movement 011 its pivot, so that just as it completes its working movement the angular member 22 is brought into engagement between the back and face of teeth of the ratchet-wheel, which are several spaces to the rear of the one engaged by the working tooth of the pawl, serving to lock the ratchet-wheel against any movement by momentum, and all as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the comparison between the dotted lines and the full lines representing the pawl showing the differences between the normal position and the final position, after working, of the platen-rotating device.

Applied for engagement at the forward upper portion of the ratchet-wheel is a click or spring-detent h, which is mounted upon the block 7L2, and the block is mounted for swinging movement upon a horizontal pivot-pin or screw 7L3. Pivoted 011 the end of the carriage is the lever i, one end of which is formed with the bevel or cam 2' while near it there is the depression 1 By swinging the lever i through means of its handle 1 the cam 2' working against the rounded end lbs of the aforesaid block, swings the block so as to bring the engaging end of the detent into ongagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and these relations are retained by reason of the said rounded part 7L5 of the block resting in the aforesaid slight depression i of the cam-lever. By swinging the cam-lever so as to disengage the block or carrier for the detent-finger h the pressure on the latter is relieved and the platen maybe rotated in either direction through means of the end knob or knobs 7.: 70 without impediment by the said detent 71 This pressure-relief maybe found advantageous by those who have not very strong fingers, the reswinging of the cam-lever being performed after the platen has been sufficiently rolled to bring the paper to the place for beginning work.

In the use of the type-writin g machine the cam-ended lever 2 may be so swung as to maintain the pressure. as aforesaid, constantly, the rotation of the platen for the running in or out of the paper being possible to persons with strong fingers, for, by reason of the upturned extremity h of the detent,

as will be perceived in Figs. 0 and 7, the platen may be rotated in either direction by the application of considerable force upon one or both of the end knobs.

0 represents the pressure-roll, which is axially parallel with and in bearing against the platen or the paper which is between it and the platen. This pressure-roll is formed with end journals 30, which are mounted for rotation in bearing sockets or holes therefor in the arms m m, which are hung for swinging movements opposite each end portion of the platen upon the aforesaid rod a, which forms the rear member of the carriage. These arms have normally a position adjacent the platen, whereby the pressu re-roll has con tact-bearin g thereagainst by the springs 32 32, which are wound around the rod a, one end of each being connected to one of the arms 'm, while the other end of each spring is connected to a collar 33, fixed by setscrew upon said rod a. Byloosening the set-screws and turning the collars more or less the bearing-pressure of the roll 0 may be regulated. The pressure-roll is positively driven by being geared to the platen so that the circumferential movement of both pressure-roll and platen is always positive and equal, so that no matter how many thicknesses of paper there may be passing between the rolls the front and rear sheets will be fed precisely concurrently, the one sheet not gaining in the slightest degree upon the other in being fed through the machine, and, moreover, the pressure-roll in its separation from the platen is always exactly axially parallel with the platen. And to these ends 1 provide upon the end of the platen opposite its ratchet-wheel Z) a spur gear-wheel j, meshing with which is a pinion 71', which is formed or affixed upon the outer end of a short shaft 0, said shaft having its inner end connected to the one end journal of the pressure-roll by a universal j ointp. The outer end of this shaft, at which the pinion is provided, has a rounded socket 35 therein with a cylindrical orifice. The outer end of this short shaft 0 is hung upon the ball-ended stud g, which is horizontallysupported in a drilled lug 36, depending from the end member of the carriage-frame. The said stud q is held immovable by the set-screw 37. The ball 38 is formed with its center eccentric to the axial center of the said stud q, so that by turning the stud the pin ion may, with its shaft, be adjusted toward or from the axis of the gear-wheel j to insure the most accurate or advantageous meshing therewith. Actual and continued use of the end support for the short shaft 0 has shown the end support and bearing to be most advantageous for nicety of operation when the base of the depression 35 is formed just so deep as to bring the center of the ball 38, when the latter is seated in said depression, coincident with the plane midway bet-ween the opposite faces of the pinion, as represented in Fig. 10, for by this arrangement the swinging movement of the short shaft will neither cause the teeth of the pinion to be brought too deep to bind within the teeth of the gear-wheel j nor, on the other hand, to cause the greater portion of the widths of the teeth to be carried out from the meshing engagement with the teeth of the gear.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 10 several thicknesses of paper are shown as being fed between the pressure-roll and platen, the parallel disposition of the pressure-roll being maintained due to the axial deflection of the short shaft 0 as permitted by reason of the forms of joints above described.

The pressure-roll is shown as being somewhat shorter than the platen, so that the arms m, on which such roll is mounted, have their positions somewhat within the ends of the platen. Each of these arms has connected thereto the rear end of a flexible strip 2, which, as at present employed, is of satin ribbon, although other flexible strip material may be employedsuch, for instance, as watch-spring steel, celluloid, parchment, or other textile material than satin. These transversely-applied strips have their front ends connected at the front of the carriage to supports having take up capabilities and which permit them to bear yieldingly against the platen. These strips thave their ends so supported in relation to the platen as to be in hearing by intermediate portions thereof for an are equal to about the third of the circumference, as seen in Figs. 12 and 16. As shown, the take-up or tensioning supports for the front extremities of these flexible strips t consist of levers nu, which are intermediately pivotally supported between earpieces 40 40, rising above the front rail or bar of the carriage. A spring 42 is connected to the forward arm of each of said levers, exerting the force to swing it downwardly and its rear end upwardly for the yielding draft upon the strips i t. The forward arm of each lever uis formed with a series of notches 43 at different points along its length, so that the end of the spring mayhave its engagement nearer or farther from the fulcrum for a correspondingly lesser or greater force of action upon the lever.

It will be perceived in Fig. 12 that the rear extremity of the flexible strip 2, running tangentially rearwardly and upwardly from the under peripheral surface of the platen, has its direction substantially toward the center of the rod a, which is the center of the swingin g movement of the arms m, upon which the pressure roll 0 is supported. Therefore, while said rear arms m m perform the double duty of supporting the pressure-roll and also the rear ends 'of the strips, any draft force established upon the flexible strips will in no wise tend to swing the levers m m, whereby the bearing of the pressure-roll would be affected. 7

In Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, devices and formations are illustrated whereby the ends IIO Q of the flexible strips i are connected to the supports a a and mm therefor. It will be perceived that said supports have the shoulders at and l5. The end portions of the satin strips t are doubled back upon themselves, as seen at 46. The bights are engaged by wire devices, each of which is formed by a suitable length formed with the straight middle portion 48, parallel side portions 49 49, which are bent in half-circular lines, which stand in opposite planes at right angles to the middle section 48, the said lengths of wire terminating in the approached sections 50 50, which stand axially coincident one with the other and both parallel to the middle section 48. The middle section 48 is engaged by the bight of the strip, while the inturned extremities 5O 5O transversely enter the sockets 52 53, extended within the opposite sides of the le vers u 917, these wire devices holding the bights against the bases of the aforesaid shoulders it and l5, the superposed end portions of the strips having such tensions in their course over the said shoulders that the greater the draft endwise upon the strips the firmer will be the confinement between the ends thereof and the supports therefor. Of course other means of connection for the strip t may be employed.

In Figs. 16 and 17 the strips are indicated at t as consisting of watch-spring steel having eyes at their ends to hook over buttons 55 on the supports therefor.

In Fig. 1b the lever n instead of havinga spring applied for draft thereupon, has one arm thereof constituted by a curved springarm 16", to which the end of the strip 25 is connected. This lever is swung for regulation of the tension by turning the screw-nut 56, which engages the screw-rod 57, the latter passing loosely through a transversely-formed hole in the lever, while the nut bears against the lever, all as very plain.

In the use of the type-writing machine comprising the last-described improvements it is intended to adjust the devices just described to accord with the kind of paper or card to be type-written upon. Therefore, if the paper is thin or used in single sheet or, perhaps, for a single carbon duplicate, the yielding pressure imparted to the forward end of the strips 25 twould be less than would be the case were thicker or a greater number of sheets employed at a single writing, and, again, where the sheet material being typewritten upon has unusual thickness the springpressnre normally imparted to the strips 2! i may be augmented by thumb-pressure, as applied through the support-levers, one or both, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 16. The flexible strips t I, supported and arranged and controlled or regulated substantially as described, cause the paper, &c., to assume an arc conformation relative to the platen, which will be continuous throughout the entire width of the paper or card, whether the same extends for the greaterportion of the length of the platen or not. In fact, postal cards and envelops being engaged just within one edge only by one of the strips t and being borne upon by the pressure-roll, will, if properly introduced, be fed through the machine perfectly straight.

Continued practical use of the paper-feeding devices described has shown them to be exceedingly eflicient and satisfactory for all kinds of work. In manifolding, all of the sheets are fed along perfectly even, and no matter how many thicknesses there may be they are held firmly up to the platen in the arc conformation throughout their area, which comprises the type impact line, and envelops having letters sealed therewithin may be most readily fed through the machine to be directed, the bulk of the matter introduced to the action of the paper-feeding devices being, up to reasonable limits, immaterial, for the devices will automatically or readily, through the intelligent manipulation hereinbefore rendered manifest, adapt themselves to the work in hand, which may be comprised within a wide range of variety.

For the purposes of economy in construction and practicability and ease of assemblage of the parts I construct the carriage at each end with an upwardly-extended lug v, with a y j ournal-openin g r through the lug longitudinally of the carriage, and from each journalopening I form an aperture U which extends to the top or other external part of the lug and which is of less diameter than the jour- 11alOp011ing'L Upon each end of the platen is the axially-extended journal-stud w, the diameter of which is small enough to allow the stud to pass within the journal-opening through said aperture Q23. A sleeve or bushing 00 is slipped endwisc over each journalstud and within the journal-opening in each of the lugs, this sleeve being immovablyheld by the set-screw t, which is passed through the lug and against the sleeve. The handleknobs 71:, having axial sockets, are slipped on over the protruding ends of the j ournal-studs of the platen,-being confined by the pins 75* or suitably otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen, of a flexible strip arranged transversely thereof having one end connected to a suitable support, a lever intermediately pivoted to one arm of which the strip is connected, and a spring applied to the other arm of the lever for imparting the tension, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of the platen, a flexible strip arranged transversely thereof, a support to which one end of said strip is secured, a pivoted lever having the strip connected to one of its arms and the other provided with a series of notches,

ITO

and a spring adapted to engage either of the notches in the lever, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen the pressure-roll and the swinging arms, m, m on which said roll is mounted, of the spring-levers, 'u, u, flexible strips, 25, I, having each, by its one end, a connection with one of said levers and by its other end a connection with one of the said arms, substantially as described.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the arms, m, and levers, it, having the shoulders, 44 and 45, of the flexible strips having the end portions bent over on themselves, the wire devices consisting of the intermediate section, 48, the angularly-bent opposing sections, 49, 49, and the approached extremities, 50, 50, which are entered in sockets therefor in the said parts, 'Zb, m, and all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen having a gear-wheel thereon, and means for rotating the platen, of a short shaft supported adjacent one end of the platen and having the meshing gearwheel, the pressure-roll mounted on movable supports and having a universal-joint connection with said short shaft, substantially as described.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen having the gear-wheel thereon, and the pressure-roll mounted for a yielding movement axially parallel with the platen, and a shaft or stud having a universal-joint connection with one end of the pressure-roll and having a pinion in engagement with said gear-wheel, said pinion-ended shaft having a socket, 35, of the ball-ended stud supported on the carriage with the ball thereof engaged in the said socket, substantially as described.

7. In a type-writin g machine, the combination with the platen having the gear-wheel thereon, and the pressure-roll mounted for a yielding movement axially parallel with the platen, and a shaft or stud having a univer= sal-joint connection with one end of the pressure-roll and having a pinion in engagement with said gear-wheel, said pinion-ended shaft having a socket, 35,-of the ball-ended stud supported on the carriage with the ball thereof eccentrically arranged and engaged in the said socket, said stud being supported for rotational adjustment, and a set-screw for holding the stud in adjustment, substantially as described.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen and the rod, a, forming part of the carriage on which the platen is mounted, of the arms, m on, hung on said rod and supporting the pressure-roll, the springs, 32, 32, coiled around said rod each having one end connected to the adjacent arm, m, and the collars, 33, 33, with which the other ends of the springs are connected, and the set-screws for holding the collars against rotation on said rod, the flexible stretchless strips secured to the arms m m and to yielding supports which are provided on the carriage at the other side of theplaten, substantially as described.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen ratchet-wheel and the reciprocatory pawl-carrier and pawl arranged for the operation explained, of the plate piv oted on, the support adjacent the pawl-carrier having in its under side the depressions, 26, 26, the depending lip, 9 and the upwardly-projected handle, g and the pointed stud, 27, all substantially as and for the pur* pose set forth.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with the platen having the ratchetwheel thereon, of the spring detent-finger for engaging the ratchet and the swinging block on which it is mounted and the swinging cam adapted to impinge against the block for placing, at pleasure, the stress upon the spring substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE S. HEATH.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLows, J. D. GARFIELD. 

